Gall bladder and gallstones

aprilbell77 · August 19, 2010

Lately, I've been having a lot of pain in my right upper abdomen area, and I think it may be due to my gall bladder. I am scheduling an appointment with my surgeon to have this checked out.

I'd like to hear any of your experiences you've had with gallstones post-VSG. Has any one experienced gall stones? Has anyone had to have gall bladder removed because of stones post-op?

Lookinupin2010 · August 19, 2010

I don't have a gallbladder anymore, cause when I was in my early 20's I lost 180 lbs in 14 months by diet and exercise. I didn't have insurance for the first 3 years, then when I got insurance it was considered pre-existing (this was back in the 70's) and I had to wait another year before I had the surgery.

The pain, I remember very well...it would start out feeling like a tight feeling in my chest...then my right side...then in my shoulder blades. I would hurt so bad that I couldn't stand for anything to touch my back. Couldn't even lie down. Then after the attack, I would spend several days with this horrible bloated feeling. Because I had to wait so long, my liver actually started causing me to get jaundiced. I would be sick for at least a week.

My attacks came on when I would try to eat chocolate, spicy foods, or be stressed out.

When I had my VSG...I do remember the nurse telling our pre-surgery class that there is a pill that you can now take that will help NOT get gallstones.

Best of luck to you....Hope this is NOT gallbladder disease...but if it is..the surgery is now less invasive than in the 70's. I have a scar that goes all down my right side, and they also removed the appendics when they removed the gallbladder back then.